Good morning,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the 91Ď㽶¶ĚĘÓƵ System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues.
If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas el59bz@umsystem.edu.
Follow UM Government Relations on Twitter:
Capitol Hill News
The House passed the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), S. 1071, on a 312–112 vote. The bill authorizes $900.6 billion for national security programs in FY26, $8 billion above the administration’s request. The measure now moves to the Senate, which is expected to vote next week on sending it to President Trump. The White House has indicated the President intends to sign the bill if it reaches his desk. Included in this package is a $5 million authorization to support micro-reactor program advancement to partner with institutions like MU and $15.5 million to partner with the private sector and academic institutions like UMKC to develop and demonstrate technologies needed for the domestic production of critical materials from domestic mineral sources.
A few senators are blocking Senate appropriators’ efforts to secure unanimous consent on a package of several remaining FY26 appropriations bills. As a result, it remains unclear whether the Senate will move forward on the package before adjourning for the holiday recess.
The Senate voted down both a Democratic bill to extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits for three years and a Republican alternative to redirect that funding into health savings accounts for out of pocket costs, leaving the subsidies on track to expire at year’s end and Republicans arguing that any long term solution must move away from open ended subsidies toward more consumer driven, cost conscious reforms. ACA tax subsidies are set to expire on December 31st.
Delegation News
Senator Josh Hawley Press Release – December 3, 2025
Senator Josh Hawley (R MO) has introduced the “No Taxes on Healthcare Act,” a proposal aimed at lowering costs for families facing high medical bills by eliminating federal income taxes on a wide range of health care expenses. The plan would allow households to deduct up to $25,000 in out-of-pocket medical costs including premiums they pay themselves, using a similar mechanism to President Trump’s “no tax on tips” initiative.
Congressman Alford Press Release – December 10, 2025
Congressman Mark Alford secures several key wins for Missouri and America’s defense in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill delivers a 3.8% pay raise for servicemembers, improves housing, education, and childcare for military families, and advances President Trump’s peace through strength agenda by investing in modernization, missile defense, and cutting-edge technologies. For Missouri’s 4th District, the NDAA authorizes up to $127.6 million for B 21 Raider related projects at Whiteman Air Force Base, protects the new Fort Leonard Wood Hospital by tightening congressional oversight of any proposed status changes, increases funding for Joint Assault Bridges used to train soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, provides $86.5 million for a microgrid and backup power at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, and formally designates the Kansas City National Security Campus as a Nuclear Weapons Production Facility, reinforcing the region as a growing hub of America’s defense industrial base.
Congressman Graves Press Release – December 10, 2025
Congressman Sam Graves secured several major wins for North Missouri in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill supports servicemembers nationwide with a 3.8% pay raise and stronger benefits, while securing key provisions for Missouri, including $200 million to procure two new C 130J aircraft for the Air National Guard, nearly $700 million for small arms ammunition produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, and $15.5 million to partner with the private sector and academic institutions like the 91Ď㽶¶ĚĘÓƵ Kansas City to develop and demonstrate technologies needed for the domestic production of critical materials from domestic mineral sources. The bill also authorizes a new Domestic Operations Tactics Training Center at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph. Together, these investments bolster North Missouri’s role in national defense, strengthen the region’s defense industrial base, and support jobs tied to military aviation, critical materials, and ammunition production.
Congressman Wesley Bell – December 10, 2025
Congressman Wesley Bell brings home millions of dollars in programs that directly support the St. Louis defense industrial base and its skilled manufacturing workforce, protecting and advancing next generation defense systems built in the region. The bill also strengthens St. Louis’ rapidly growing geospatial and AI ecosystem anchored by the new NGA West campus in North St. Louis by expanding federal support for GEOINT, AI and machine learning, and cybersecurity initiatives. In addition, it reinforces federal support for the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, helping preserve readiness and regional operations that are closely tied to Missouri’s broader defense and aerospace economy.
Federal News
The White House – November 2025
The 2025 National Security Strategy lays out an explicitly “America First” framework that narrows U.S. national interests to a focused set of priorities and links them to economic strength at home. It argues that post Cold War elites overreached by trying to dominate the entire world, and instead centers on protecting U.S. sovereignty, borders, and the domestic middle class through reindustrialization, energy expansion, and a pro worker trade agenda. The document defines core interests as securing the Western Hemisphere including a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, deterring China while safeguarding Indo Pacific sea lanes and supply chains, supporting European security while pressing allies to do more, preventing any power from dominating the Middle East, and ensuring that U.S. technologies and standards lead in areas like AI, biotech, and quantum. It emphasizes principles such as peace through strength, a predisposition to nonintervention abroad, respect for national sovereignty over global institutions, and insistence on fair economic and security burden sharing from allies and partners.
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science – December 11, 2025
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced over $320 million in investments to rapidly advance the Genesis Mission’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. These awards are in accordance with President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut and other DOE appropriations to advance “AI for science” initiatives at the DOE. The awards will begin building the integrated American Science and Security Platform, a discovery engine designed to double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering investments within a decade.
USDA – December 8, 2025
The Trump Administration announced that USDA will provide $12 billion in one time “farmer bridge” payments to help American producers facing temporary trade market disruptions and higher production costs. Of the total, up to $11 billion will flow through a new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program for row crop producers of commodities such as soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, wheat, and others, with the remaining $1 billion directed to specialty crops and other commodities. The payments, funded under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, are intended to help farmers manage 2025 crop year losses until longer term support provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act including higher reference prices take effect in 2026.
The Federal News Network – December 8, 2025
The Trump administration’s new lays out a clear, commonsense vision for making the federal government leaner, more accountable, and more responsive to taxpayers. A key focus is “Deliver results, buy American,” prioritizing U.S. workers and manufacturers in federal purchasing and ensuring that taxpayer dollars support American jobs rather than subsidizing foreign competitors. Alongside efforts to cut wasteful programs and streamline bureaucracy, the agenda aims to modernize government operations while reinforcing a strong Buy American approach across agencies, aligning federal procurement with the goal of rebuilding American industry and strengthening our economic security.
Congressional Calendar
Reviewed 2025-12-12